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Brad Hodge wins a recall to Australia's T20 team

Chloe Saltau, Jesse Hogan

Brad Hodge has been called up to play for Australia in the remaining Twenty20 games against England. Photo: Getty Images

Brad Hodge has been gone so long he didn't have the national selectors' number in his phone and had given up on playing for Australia again. But the world's most successful Twenty20 batsman now believes he can help Australia win its first World Twenty20 title.

Hodge, 39, is a legitimate candidate to assume a finisher role for the tournament in Bangladesh in March. He was called up to replace South Africa-bound Moises Henriques in the squad for Friday night's game against England at the MCG after a six-year absence.

I never thought this day would come.

It is believed his chances of featuring in the tournament are good because selectors have been impressed by his ability to score heavily late in innings, which he demonstrated in the middle-order role he filled for Rajasthan in last year's Indian Premier League. In his 21 IPL and Champions League matches last year, usually at number five or six, he was not out in more than half his innings to average 55.86 at a strike rate of 148.11.

Hodge has spent most of his limited-overs career in the top-order but the shift was devised by his captain at the Royals, Indian great Rahul Dravid.

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The Victorian has played six Tests, 25 one-day internationals and eight T20 internationals. He is the leading scorer in the history of the shortest format with 5844 runs at 36.98 in 209 matches, including 61 in his last start for the Melbourne Stars against Perth Scorchers on Monday.

Asked whether that innings served as a timely reminder of his capabilities, Hodge replied: ''I've been sending out reminders for a fair bit of time now.

''I never thought this day would come. I've probably had the game for a long time. I don't really need to call on anything else other than experience to know exactly what I can do. It's nice to be able to get into this group again and feel what it's like. It's been a long time.''

Hodge made a point of thanking John Inverarity's selection panel for disregarding age, having recalled both Brad Haddin and Chris Rogers to the Test team with excellent results.

Once, when Andrew Hilditch was in the chair, Hodge said he was a better chance of playing lawn bowls for Australia than cricket.

But now he believes his experience in the Bangladesh Premier League could help him into the World Twenty20 squad.

''I never really thought I would be a chance for it, but a door has opened up. This is a nice little reward for the hard work that has gone in for well over two decades.

''There's no stop sign if you get to a certain age, which is nice for us elder statesmen. It keeps us going. I put my hand out and say thank you to the selectors and the new regime that is welcoming us.''

For selectors to include Hodge for the World Twenty20, they would be forced to make some tough decisions given David Warner and Shane Watson are certain inclusions and Aaron Finch is sure to retain his opening role. All-rounder James Faulkner is hopeful he will be fit after knee surgery.

Cameron White marked his international recall against England with a man-of-the-match performance: 75 off 43 balls as a stand-in opener. Debutant Chris Lynn also impressed in the 13-run win at Blundstone Arena with 33 not out off 19 balls as a finisher. Australia's only batsman with a strike rate below 150 against England was captain George Bailey (14 off 14), whose Twenty20 performances since replacing White as captain two years ago have been solid but not as dazzling as his 50-over performances.

White said even with his half-century against England he was not assured of holding his spot in the team when Australia regains Warner and Watson in March, for a three-match series in South Africa and then the World Twenty20.

''I can just concentrate on these next couple of games, hopefully put my best foot forward and score a few more runs,'' White said.

23 comments so far

Wasn't there anyone from NSW interested?

Commenter

Hazza

Location

Wickville

Date and time

January 30, 2014, 9:18AM

About bloody time!!!

Commenter

Andrew of Mt. Eliza

Date and time

January 30, 2014, 10:02AM

Finally, an opportunity,well done.

Commenter

Darty

Location

shanghai

Date and time

January 30, 2014, 10:46AM

Another factor in Hodge's favor for the world Twenty20 that seems to be missed is that he has played a couple of seasons in Bangladesh in their domestic Twenty20 competition

Commenter

p

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

January 30, 2014, 12:06PM

Finally some good selection based on ability. Age has nothing to do with it for all you that say "he's too old". The only reason we lost the Ashes in England was due to the philosophy about Hussey, Ponting and Katich being "too old."

Commenter

McCosker

Date and time

January 30, 2014, 12:46PM

McCosker . Gusset chose to retire. The selectors wanted him to go on. If you listen to him on BBL commentary he often states it would have been wrong to play on when his heart was no longer in it. Latch agreed he got shafted. Ponting well his form made him choose to retire.

Commenter

Armchair sector

Date and time

January 30, 2014, 1:26PM

McCosker. Gusset chose to retire

Commenter

Armchair selector

Date and time

January 30, 2014, 6:07PM

The maker of Australian team caps will appreciate the notice given the extra fabric required for Podge's hat.

Commenter

No Victorian

Date and time

January 30, 2014, 1:07PM

ding dong ! the wicked old (nsw biased seclection ) witch is dead .... well they did give moses an odd promotion but here.s hoping.....

Commenter

pbrc

Location

eltham

Date and time

January 30, 2014, 1:16PM

is this some type of sick joke coming from north of the border if so i hope the opera house collapses and the harbor bridge melts and buckles making it useless . i also hope that hodgie kills em he is well deserved in the team and maybe he can get in the test team as well. why not chris rogers is back in after 10 years

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